So is this the proper way to sell your own book on YouTube? Doesn’t immediately seem quite right, but then what the hell do I know, I’m objectively terrible at marketing. Maybe this will be pure advertising genius. The book seems kinda interesting.
Interesting news out of Britain…
Short form: one Nicholas Brock has been sentenced to five years in prison for owning three books that are legal to own. There were apparently no indications that he had plans to commit criminal acts, but off to prison he goes.
Honestly, this one baffles me.
How do they know???
Mortons has announced my “bookazine” Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird – Origins & Evolution, now available for pre-order. This is my first published book. Woo! It covers the development of the SR-71 from well before the program started , including the “Suntan” concepts and several Convair high speed reconnaissance platforms, up through the development of the “Archangel” series that led to the CIA’s A-12, through the Mach 3 interceptor designs and the SR-71 itself. From there it also includes a number of proposed derivatives and unbuilt concepts… an A-12 used to launch satellites, the SR-71 as a carrier for a manned hypersonic scramjet vehicle, the use of the “SR-71C” as a flying wind tunnel, etc.
It is available directly through the publisher for £8.99 (Approx $12.41 or €10.34). It is also available through Amazon for pre-order for $12.99. Direct from the publisher should be available sooner; from Amazon, lower mailing cost if you’re in the US.
Here are some shots of a few pages to give you an idea of what’s in it. I created all the diagrams within, based on official sources and as accurate as I could make them. There are many, MANY diagrams here describing designs mundane and downright wacky, from tiny unmanned drones to truly gigantic hydrogen-fueled monsters.
Tell your friends!
The observant observer will note that something seems to be missing from the front view here. However… it’s accurate as depicted.
Amazon sent me a link to a book it thought I might like:
Does that Amazon AI know me or what?
FYI: Here’s my other computer screen at the moment…
Here is an incomplete look at the diagrams created for my first book, “Boeing B-47 Stratojet and B-52 Stratofortress; Origins & Evolution.” It can be pre-ordered either directly from the publisher (with publication expected in late September) or through Amazon (looks like they’ll have it two months later). It is also expected to be on certain store shelves… more on that when it’s confirmed.
A few of these diagrams will be compressed to several-per-page; a few of them here are already shown in multiple optional layouts. But there are also a dozen-ish diagrams *not* shown because they are incomplete as yet. This gives an indication of the size and scope of the project…
My publisher has gone public with Book One, entitled
Woo!
It is being published by Mortons out of Britain, is scheduled for release at the end of September, and is going to be around 250 to 280 pages (I’m still furiously working away at it). As those who have seen my work may assume, it will be loaded to the gills with diagrams, in this case covering the competitors to the B-47 and B-52, the original concepts, how the designs evolved and many of the proposed and built derivatives. You can pre-order at the link above. I’m getting confirmation on availability in the States… Amazon and Barnes & Noble and other sources. Will report back on that, but it does look like both outlets will carry it.
I will post more details – including glimpses of diagrams and some of the color art created for the book by Rob Parthoens – in the coming days. Feel free to ask questions.
Note: Book Two has not yet gone public. But Book Two should be published *first* since it is finished and edited; I’ve seen and approved the layout. All it’s missing right now is cover art, which is in process.
And…behold! An Amazon link, listing it as available in late November/early December. Just in time for Chrisnukkwanzayulmass! Note though that the “150 page” length listed there is incorrect… came from the original placeholder text.
Some important news:
Book One: Started in January of 2020, it was scheduled to be turned in in July of 2020… but a pandemic came along and trashed the planetary economy. the publisher pushed the deadline back a year. Today I saw the probable layout for the cover, as well as finished another 3-view bring the total to 191.5 pages of diagrams. Quite a few more to go.
Book Two: started a month or so after Book One was delayed, it’s to be a smaller work. The manuscript was turned in a month ago. Today I saw a near-final revision of the layout, with some corrections to be made. Around 109 or so distinct designs are illustrated; some two or more to a page, some taking two pages to illustrate. A number of inboard profile/plan views.
It seems that Book One is likely to be announced Real Soon Now, now that the cover is worked out. At that time, the details of the publisher, format and contents will be made available.
Moments ago I sent off the final chapter, text and diagrams, of Book Two to the publisher. It needs a fair bit of editing, and the diagrams will need adjusting… but it is in an important sense *done.*
Now, to finish Book One…